Rollable sound-producing toy



Allg 19, 1952 E. B. swr-:BILIUS RoLLABLE soUND -PRODUCING TOY Filed D60. 17, 1948 H fof/vega* Patented Aug. 19, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROLLBLE SOUND-PRODUCING TOY Earl B. Swebilius, Hamden, Conn. Application December 17, 1948, Serial No. 65,801

(Cl. i6-114) 6 Claims.

The present invention relates toimprovements in toys and relates more particularly to improve- -ments in toys of the type which are rollable and which produce sound.

As will be apparent from the accompanying drawings, considered in conjunction with the following description, the present invention contemplates a combination in which there is provided a roller-member in conjunction with a yoke eccentrically connected to the roller-member in such manner that sound is produced for the amusement and entertainment of children, if not for their parents.

I am aware thatjprior to the present invention rolling toys embodyinga roller-member and a yoke have been provided (see U. S. Patents 741,963; 1,234,472; and 1,523,929) and that eccentric rolling-members have also been provided eccentrically connected to a body to produce a rolling motion (see U. S. Patent 1,681,666). No one prior to the present invention, so far vas 1 have been able to ascertain, has ever perceived that by combining the yoke of the prior art with eccentric connections to a roller-member, sound could be produced for the amusement of children, withoutresorting to complex, costly or delicate mechanisms.

One of the main objects of the present invention is to provide a superior toy of the character referred to which will appeal both visually and audibly to children and attract their interest by odd and intriguing movements of the toy in its sound-producing gyrations. I

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rollable sound-producing toy which combines vlow cost for manufacture with both eye and ear appeal, as far as children are concerned. A further object ofthe present invention is to provide a superior toy of the character referred to which will withstand hard usage, and in the event of bending or the like, may be readily restored to substantially normal condition.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear to those skilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention includes all features in the said disclosure which are novel 'over the prior art. i In the accompanyingdrawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present-invention are shown for illustrativepurpose's:

Fig. 1 is a top or plan view of a' preferred form of rollable sound-producing toy embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof; Fig. 3 is a view of the toy infront elevation A other adistancej suflicient to`- freely accommodate J Withthe outer end of the'h'ar'idle-unit omitted j l Fig. 4 is a broken sectional view taken through the roller-member and its bearing-connection to the yoke;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional the line 6 5 of Fig. 2

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the handle-unit.; and

view taken on Fig. 7 is a perspective View of one of the tires prior to its application to the roller-member.

The preferred forml of toy embodying the present invention and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, includes a roller-member generally 'designated Vby the reference character II) and a struck inwardly toprovide bearing-.cuffs I5 and I6 for purposes .as will hereinafter appear. Both of the bearing-cuffs I5 and I6 are eccentrically located with respect to the center of the respective end-plates I3 and I4 and are preferably located diametricallyopposite each other, as is especially well shown in Fig. 4.

. Encircling' the tubular body I2 ofthe rollermember IIJ are twotires'v II-II respectivelylocated adjacent the opposite' ends'of the said vbody and of sufficient thickness to maintain the `periphery of the tubular body I2 out of contact with the.. floor or other' surface when the toy is being rlledthereon in" a m'anner as will hereinafter appear. Preferably, the tires I'I-I'I are formed lfrom flat rings of rubber. or other elastic material `similar to the rings employed for sealing fruit Yjars and the like, and having a normal internal diameter (Fig. 7 considerably lessthan the diameter of the tubular body I2 upon which it is desired to install them. When a flat ring such as is shown in Fig. 7 is stretched over the body I2, it will,'due'tosuch stretching, lie at thereon.

{I he handle-unit I I before referred to comprises a 'substantially -U-shaped yoke generally-designated'by the reference character I8 and having va cross-reach I9. From the opposite ends ofthe said cross-reach project two integral parallel sidearms (20' andV 2 I, which are` spaced from' each between them the v roller-member Ibefore referred toandwhich extend atan angle to the end-plates'or vend-walls I3, ,I4 thereof. The free ends of the side-arms 20` and. 2l'A are turned'-i'nwardly toward each other to respectively proyide t 3 bearing-fingers 22 and 23 respectively freely ntting into the bearing-cuffs l and I6 of the rollermember I0.

In addition to the yoke i8, the handle-unit H includes a substantially-straight handle-reach 24 and a bracket-arm 25 extending over the roller-inember IG and provided at its free end with a loop 26. The handle-reach 24 and bracket-arm 25 are preferably integral with each other and at their juncture they are spot-welded as at 21 or votherwise rigidly secured to the cross-reach i9 of the yoke I8.

Suspended from the loop 26 of the bracketarm 25 is a bell 28 or other suitable device for producing sound. As shown, the bell 28 is provided with a clapper 29 which is adapted in the facvgici 4 specic ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

In claim 1. A rollable sound-producing toy, including in combination: a roller-member having opposite end-portions of substantially-circular form and a handle-unit having a yoke-portion straddordinary manner of bells to swing from side l to side.

Preferably, the parts l2, I3; and I4 are formed from thin sheet metal to thus more readily produce sound, while the parts I8, 24 and-25 are preferably formed from relatively-heavy metal wire or the like.

Preferably and as shown, the substantiallystraight handle-reach 24 of the handle-unit Il `is covered by a tubular body 3U of plastic material such, for instance, as cellulose acetate, rubber, or vinylidene chloride.

The sleeve or tube 30 is interposed between the spot-weld 2'1 and the inner Vend of a handlelike terminal 3l fitted over the extreme outer end of the handle-reach 24 and cemented or otherwise secured thereto. The said sleeve or tube 3G serves to effectively conceal kinks and bends in the handle-reach 24 after the same has been 'bent or distorted by children and substantially restored to normal straightness.

Now when a child grasps the terminal 3l and K pushes the toy forwardly, `the roller-member IU will gyrate or wobble between the positions indicated by full lines in Fig. 1 and the positions shown 'by broken lines in the same gure. The edges of the respective end-plates I3 and VIt will alternately strike the side-arms 2G and 2|, thereby 'causing a sound twice for each revolution of the said roller-member.

As the toy is moved forwardly as above described, not only will theV roller-member l0 gyrate' in the' manner indicated in'liig.'V 1, but the yoke I'S will have its respective opposite ends alternately raised and lowered in the manner indicated in Fig. '3. This movement of theyoke IS lwill cause the bracket-arm 25 to swingfrom side to side between the extremes indicatedl by full lines in Fig. 3 and the broken linesin the saine figure. This motion will cause the sounding of the bell 28 also vtwice for each revolution of vthe roller-member il). Y

From the foregoing it will be seen that by mounting a yoke eccentrically with respect to a roller-member rather than coaxially with respect thereto, not only is the said roller-member caused to gyrate or wobble but the said rollermenber may be caused to strike the arms ol the yoke in the manner above described and thus produce a sound which is amusing 'to children. 1

Furthermore, by connecting the yoke i8 or its equivalent in such `'manner that at least one of its ends is eccentrically connected to' the `roller-member IB orits equivalent, the bell 28 or other soundingJ device is caused to sound,

mechanisms.

`thus dispensing V-with costly and troublesome ling the said roller-member in angular relation to the ends thereof and being provided with two bearing-portions respectively engaging with the bearings of the end-portions of the said roller-member, the said roller-member and the said yoke-portion being proportioned and arranged to cause the said roller-member to strike the said yoke-portion as the roller-member and yoke-portion are caused to gyrate with respect to each other by the said eccentric connection as the roller-member is rolled along a surface by means of the said handle-unit.

2. Arollable sound-producing toy, including in combination: a roller-member of hollow drumlike form and having opposite end-walls, each of the said end-walls having one of two complemental bearings and one at least of the said bearings being'eccentrc; and a handle-unit having a yoke-portion straddling the said rollermernber in angular relation to the ends thereof 'and being provided with two bearing-portions respectively engaging with the bearings of the end-walls of the said hollow roller-member, the said roller-member and the said yoke-portion being proportioned and arranged to cause the peripheries of the opposite end-walls of said rollermernber to strike the said yoke-portion as the Vroller-member and yoke-portion are caused to gyrate with respect to each other by the said eccentric connection as the roller-member is rolled along a surface by means of the said handle-unit.

3. A rollable sound-producing toy, including in combination: a roller-member having opposite end-portions of substantially-circular form in cross section, each of the said end-portions having one of two complemental bearings and one atleast of the said bearings being eccentric; and a'handle-unit having a yoke-portion straddling the said roller-member and provided with opposite side-arms each having a bearing-portion respectivelyengaging with the bearings of the end-walls ofv the said roller-member, the said roller-member and the side-arms of the said yoke portion being proportioned and arranged to cause the said Vroller-member tol strike a side-arm of the said yoke-portion as the said roller-member and yoke-portion are caused to gyrateV with respect to eachother bythe said eccentric connection as the roller-member is rolled along Aa surface by means of the said handle-unit.

l 4. A Vrollable sound-producing toy, including in combination: a roller-member of hollow drumlike form and having opposite end-walls, ea'ch of the said end-walls having one of two complemental bearings and one at least of the said bearings being eccentric; and a handle-unit having a yoke-portionV straddling the said rollermeinb'er and 'provided' with opposite side-arms each having a bearing-portion respectively engaging with the bearings of the end-walls of the said roller-member, the said roller-member and the side-arms of the said yoke-portion being proportioned and arranged to cause the said rollermember to strike a side-arm of the said yokeportion as the hollow roller-member and yokeportion are caused to gyrate with respect to each other by the said eccentric connection as the roller-member is rolled along a surface by means of the said handle-unit.

5. A rollable sound-producing toy, including in combination: a roller-member having opposite end-portions of substantially-circular form in cross section, each of the said end-portions having one of two complemental eccentric bearings; and a handle-unit having a yoke-portion straddling the said roller-member in angular relation to the ends thereof and being provided with two bearing-portions respectively engaging with the eccentric bearings of the end-portions of the said roller-member, the said roller-member and the said yoke-member being proportioned and arranged to cause the said roller-member to strike the said yoke-portion as the roller-member and yoke-portion are caused to gyrate with respect to each other by the said double eccentric connection as the roller-member is rolled along a surface by means of the said handle-unit.

6. A rollable sound-producing toy, including in combination: a hollow roller-member of drumlike form and having opposite end-walls, each of the said end-walls having one of two complemental eccentric bearings; and a handle-unit having a yoke-portion straddling the said hollow roller-member in angular relation to the ends thereof and being provided with two bearing-portions respectively engaging with the eccentric bearings of the end-portions of the said roller-member, the said roller-member and the said yoke-member being proportioned and arranged to cause the said roller-member to strike the said yoke-portion as the roller-member and yoke-portion are caused to gyrate with respect to each other by the said double eccentric connection as the roller-member is rolled along a surface by means of the said handle-unit.

EARL B. SWEBILIUS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 561,641 Agnew June 9, 1896 741,963 Hale Oct. 20, 1903 1,234,472 Heimer July 24, 1917 1,523,929 Bongiovanni Jan. 20, 1925 1,532,339 Parke 1 Apr. '7, 1925 1,678,519 Lynch July 24, '1928 1,681,666 Higgins Aug. 21, 1928 

